Page 21 - Louisiana 811 Magazine 2019 Issue 1
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vegetation mnnag2mcnt— discovering whether it's been

cut back along the R-O-W and it it's been done properly Q

And Paul says this technology is being used in more ‘~—"En
industries than iust oil and gas Electric cornpanies are at
beginning to use uixvs to inspect high tension lines

and wind turbines. Paul said that in the past, fixed

wing aircraft and helicopters were used, which is very

expensive and dangerous, especially when it involves

techrucians hanging from a helicopter. "Them are lust so

inany thing. thzllmnke drones cheaper and azlfer." 81 ’| b e  

saiety, as always, is a key fzlclor when adopting new

technology and soincthing that is always on the niinds .

of drone operators is the safety and legality of piloting

them in various areas. Paul said that a lot of what they _

do is rural, but when they enter inore urban areas, they

have to be aware of the different regulations they rnay

encounter Federal Avlatlon Administration (FAA) and And if you suspect a gas leak, can

state regulations are changing quickly, but not qulle

as qulckly as UAV technology is advancing. For the 1-800-ENTERGV (368-3749) or 911.

inost part, however, Paul feels that rule nialcers leeep

the interests of pipeline and utility companies (which .

affect all .~'tr1k2}lolde!s)ln niind. There are various drone At Em9"9Y: 5af5tY '5 our

associations that l-leath belongs to, including one specific number one pr;ority_

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to thcenergy sector, so they can stay intoraied otany '~ '—"  . ’a.<.r4~‘ :,;V _ ,2
new regulations or legislation as it is being considered. - -_ :x ‘Y , J
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Later this year, Heath is looking to expand their line ;' ’" *

locating services to offer a contract service using drone ,1‘

technology to inspect pipes. But they're also developlng ‘

uAvs to sell to contractors. "!fLhez2’o a service provider . __

that wants to do leak detection, they could buy one , roar ‘

roi-ii us an et into at usiness. transmission aw, ' ‘ F". . . _
i dg th I: ’ A ‘ ,W"‘g,,‘_1‘s,, >
conipany that wants to do theirowninspeetions could . 4 in, 75* _ 4: - s ,.r;,ats ' >5 ‘.3,-,, ,-
liuyone fmmus orhireus to do itas contractor" Paul ' M  fig filer“ .    _-:4;-.~1—a"-v’; .'
said anotlieroptionis to purchase ]u~1 the detection " 2. . 1  _;;2r3:s.».”.' r.c$;,,g~;1_‘, ,,
equipment and soitware and add itto their own drone. vi , P A ‘L ~~*-v t‘.v«:£ V ‘  \a' , V
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Asexciting as these developnients are, Heath |an't done. A‘: -“.j'»J fiat.“  f,W__ r A ,;g_.,4)“v V 

Paul wehnert expects Heath consultants to continue i ,~"‘3' iW;" " 5‘ — V i; . re-£5; ., ‘. jg, _ 3 _s_ y _
to lead in the development and adaptation of new > V

technologies to make all aspects of the energy industry  W E P O W E R L I E E
sater and more effluent for years to cornc. an

2019, issue i tsoiaraa 511 . 19



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